Ax-handle



(No Model.)

J. D. BLAKER,

AX HANDLE.

N0. 2'71,803. Patented Ja11.30, 1883.

' 71/6886 Inv/na MXW aw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. BLAKER, OF NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

AX-HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,303, dated January30, 1883,

Application filed October 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN D. BLAKER, a citizenof the United States of America, residing at Newtown, in the county ofBucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ax-Handles, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to ax-handles; and it consists mainly in theproduction of 'a me.- tallic spring-handle, and, secondly, in certaindetails of construction whereby the main feature is successfully carriedout.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of an axconstructed according to my improvement, and Fig. 2 a vertical sectionof the same.

A represents an ordinary ax, except that the eye is smaller, in whichisfitted the bandle B, made preferably of spring-steel, with its upper endsquared to fit the eye of the ax, and provided with a out or burr, O, bywhich it is secured therein. The lower end is also squared, and has agrip, D, and a loop, E, fastened on it by a nut or burr, F.

AtG is a sliding grip, formed of leather, vulcanized rubber, canvas, orother suitable material, fitting the handle loosely, and of such size asto be readily and conveniently clasped in the hand, which grip isslipped on the handle before the lower grip is puton. This sliding gripwill be found to be of the greatest usefulness in connection with thespring-handle, for a spring-handle is necessarily too small to beconveniently grasped or held in the hand, and if it were cased to securea good hand-hold the casing would interfere with its elasticity, and thesliding grip is therefore a prime necessityin connection with aspringhandle, and, moreover, it saves the hands liom the blisteringcaused by the ordinary wooden handles until the hands get calloused orhardened.

In using the ax the lower grip, D, is grasped with one hand and thesliding grip G by the other, which, being held firmly in the hand, slipsup and down the handle as the ax is raised and lowered in chopping.

The metallic spring-handle will be found to be very advantageous in use,as besides the advantage due to the spring in making the cut, themetallic handle being of much smaller diameter thana wooden one, thereis less re sistance inypassing through the air, and the ax willtherefore be driven farther into the wood with the same amount of labor,and, moreover, thespring-handle will save the choppers hands from muchof the shock felt by them at each blow, which although comparativelyslight at each stroke, yet in the course of a days chopping tellsseverely on a mans powers, especially with young or inexperiencedchoppers.

Irrespective of the mechanical advantages of a metallic spring-handle,it has economic advantages also, for, although the first cost may bemore, as the metallic handle is practically indestructible, one handlecan be used on many different axes, as it will outwear many, and as theeyes of the axes and the squared part of the handle will always be ofthe same size it will be only necessary to unscrew the nut to remove oneax and replace it with another, which can be readily and solidlyfastened by again screwing on the nut.

I do not intend to limit myself to handles made ot'steel, round incrosssection, as other forms may be used, such as oval, tubular,cruciform, square, hexagonal, or other polygonal form; nor do I limitmyself to steel, as spring'brass may be used.

Although I have described the sliding handgrip as made of flexiblematerial, yet it is obvious that it may be of hard material, such aswood or metal.

I am aware that metallic handles have been used for various tools, andtherefore make no claim, broadly, to a metallic handle.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination of a metallic ax-handle,having one end adapted to be held by one hand of the operator, with asliding grip constructed to be grasped by the other [hand and move alongthe handle when the blow is given, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. The combination, with a spring ax-handle, B, of the fixed enlargedgrip D and tubular sliding grip G, constructed to move along the handlewhen the blow is given, all con structed and arranged substantially asdescribed, and for the purpose specified.

In, testimony whereot'Iaffix mysignatnre, in presence of two witnesses,this 18th day of October, 1882. 7

JOHN D. BLAKER. Witnesses:

T. J .,,W. ROBERTSON, 1 0. MoCLEARY.

